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Sermons of Sorrow #1
Piece of Me
Over a decade ago, Kari's husband and son went hunting and never returned.
As she prepares for another long winter she longs for their return.
Then one day things change. The night creatures who live in the dark have visited the day and a mysterious figure who arrives may hold the key to reuniting her with her family.
For Kari, the question becomes - just how far will she go to be reunited?
- GenresHorror
168 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2019
7 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Steve Stred
88 books671 followersAn award-winning author, Steve Stred lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with his wife and son.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 12, 2019
First, check out this book's cover. So graphic and colorful! It caught my attention right away. Now that I have read the book, I understand the significance of both the illustration and the title.
The author creates his own world in great detail, transferring images and landscapes directly into the readers' imaginations. The story takes place during an icy winter in a remote and vastly unpopulated area. Giant beasts hunt in the woods, and once spotted, they are impossible to forget. Animals of various species are melded into huge and dangerous predators, with tusks and hoofs that aid their pursuit of game. Blood is plentiful in the frozen snow, and humans are a prime target.
The main character in the book, Kari, has lost her husband and son, who left their small cabin on a hunting trip and never returned. Kari has survived on her own for years, never giving up hope that she will reunite with her family. A surprise encounter with another being offers Kari the opportunity to find her husband and son. A journey begins through a fantasy-like winter setting populated by beasts and beings of all kinds. Danger is always immanent, and trust is hard to come by. Through icy fields and mountain caves, Kari travels with the strange half human she initially encountered, always on alert and wary of his motives.
This story is akin to an adult fairy tale that melds horror with wonder, sparing no details of violence or trickery. Ultimately, it forces the main character to face irreversible hard choices, which she confronts with aplomb. Reading this book is like watching an epic movie in your head. Also included are two short stories that take place in the same world as Kari's.
Many thanks to the author, who provided me with an ARC of this creative adventure in a different world. It was an enticing and suspenseful trip.
The author creates his own world in great detail, transferring images and landscapes directly into the readers' imaginations. The story takes place during an icy winter in a remote and vastly unpopulated area. Giant beasts hunt in the woods, and once spotted, they are impossible to forget. Animals of various species are melded into huge and dangerous predators, with tusks and hoofs that aid their pursuit of game. Blood is plentiful in the frozen snow, and humans are a prime target.
The main character in the book, Kari, has lost her husband and son, who left their small cabin on a hunting trip and never returned. Kari has survived on her own for years, never giving up hope that she will reunite with her family. A surprise encounter with another being offers Kari the opportunity to find her husband and son. A journey begins through a fantasy-like winter setting populated by beasts and beings of all kinds. Danger is always immanent, and trust is hard to come by. Through icy fields and mountain caves, Kari travels with the strange half human she initially encountered, always on alert and wary of his motives.
This story is akin to an adult fairy tale that melds horror with wonder, sparing no details of violence or trickery. Ultimately, it forces the main character to face irreversible hard choices, which she confronts with aplomb. Reading this book is like watching an epic movie in your head. Also included are two short stories that take place in the same world as Kari's.
Many thanks to the author, who provided me with an ARC of this creative adventure in a different world. It was an enticing and suspenseful trip.
March 15, 2020
Steve Stred has created something really special here. The first of a new trilogy, this is an epic dark fantasy horror novella, rooted in myth and folklore. An unrelenting and brutal tale of betrayal and sacrifice, all taking place in some of the best world building I’ve seen in a while.
I really became attached to the main character Kari, and her quest, through some truly horrific situations, to be reunited with her family, thought to be dead and lost for more than a decade, victims of the night creatures, the multi horned sharp toothed indigenous creatures , who provide a valid excuse for keeping your ass at home at night, only venturing out when necessary. This story is bleak, and heartbreaking, and pissed me off quite frequently, due to all the manipulations and deceptions taking place by all these larger than life characters moving the chess pieces around in an effort to complete their goals. Giant eagles, frost giants, and the walking dead all inhabit the icy cold landscape of this world. Stred describes the bitter cold permeating everything so beautifully, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to grab a couple of extra blankets out of the closet while reading it.
One can argue this book may actually contain a happy ending, shocking for a Stred story. Did I mention this was pretty bleak- yeah, pretty sure I did. The events leading up to the ending were straight up horror. Not for the faint of heart and a real gut punch. If I had to come up with a classification for the genre in which this should be placed, I would say, Neil Gaiman meets J.R.R Tolkien on the set of Night Of The Living Dead. Coming from me, and how I feel about all three, this is one of the highest compliments I can give.
I can’t wait to explore and experience more of this world, and have high hopes of owning some kind of beautiful collectors edition of all of it when it’s complete. Reserving the space on my bookshelf now. 😉📚📚📚
I really became attached to the main character Kari, and her quest, through some truly horrific situations, to be reunited with her family, thought to be dead and lost for more than a decade, victims of the night creatures, the multi horned sharp toothed indigenous creatures , who provide a valid excuse for keeping your ass at home at night, only venturing out when necessary. This story is bleak, and heartbreaking, and pissed me off quite frequently, due to all the manipulations and deceptions taking place by all these larger than life characters moving the chess pieces around in an effort to complete their goals. Giant eagles, frost giants, and the walking dead all inhabit the icy cold landscape of this world. Stred describes the bitter cold permeating everything so beautifully, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to grab a couple of extra blankets out of the closet while reading it.
One can argue this book may actually contain a happy ending, shocking for a Stred story. Did I mention this was pretty bleak- yeah, pretty sure I did. The events leading up to the ending were straight up horror. Not for the faint of heart and a real gut punch. If I had to come up with a classification for the genre in which this should be placed, I would say, Neil Gaiman meets J.R.R Tolkien on the set of Night Of The Living Dead. Coming from me, and how I feel about all three, this is one of the highest compliments I can give.
I can’t wait to explore and experience more of this world, and have high hopes of owning some kind of beautiful collectors edition of all of it when it’s complete. Reserving the space on my bookshelf now. 😉📚📚📚
November 17, 2019
I did some editing on this book, so as usual, I may be biased. However, Steve once again knocks it out of the park.
I always enjoy Stred’s mythical fantasy stories — For Balder Walks was the first story of his I ever read — and this one becomes truly cosmic.
There’s a terrific sense of place and atmosphere, and plenty of memorable creatures and images.
A grim, frost-bitten read, with a sense of icy hope at the core of its black, withered heart.
I always enjoy Stred’s mythical fantasy stories — For Balder Walks was the first story of his I ever read — and this one becomes truly cosmic.
There’s a terrific sense of place and atmosphere, and plenty of memorable creatures and images.
A grim, frost-bitten read, with a sense of icy hope at the core of its black, withered heart.
December 15, 2019
A good and creepy winter’s tale. Check it out if you like icy fantasies and trickster gods. It is also a poignant meditation on grieving and the toll it takes in our body and soul. Thanks to the author for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2019
First, I want to say a huge thank you to Steve Stred for sending me an advance copy of Piece of Me.
Piece of Me begins many years after Kari's husband and young son embark on a hunting trip they never return from yet Kari still kindles a small flame of hope that they will come trudging home through the snow one day. When she is made an offer to find her family again by a dark stranger she knows is untrustworthy she must decide just how much of a sacrifice she is willing to make. This is a bittersweet story of love and loss and how far one will go for the people they love.
Stred not only wove this beautiful, harrowing story of friendship and deception and sacrifice, he also built an entire world full of desolate landscapes, terrifying and hideous beasts, this world, the world beyond, and the realms between. He crafted his story so we, the readers, do not just read the feelings and emotions of the characters, of the world. We feel the isolation and claustrophobia. We feel dread as the sun sets and the night beasts begin to roam. I loved the imagery and symbolism of light and dark. Generally speaking, light stands for the good and dark for the evil but in Piece of Me Stred plays with that notion and even flips it on its head. What seems to be evil may actually be salvation.
I loved loved loved the character of Balder. I was giddy when I realized he was from For Balder Walks which is a short story in Stred's Frostbitten collection I read last year. I always appreciate the reappearance of a character. I feel it adds to the depth of the story and aids in the overall world building. I urge you to read For Balder Walks not because you need that knowledge to understand this story, Stred was careful to ensure that wasn't the case, but because it will add to the melancholy feel and give you a deeper appreciation of the character and the part he plays in Piece of Me.
If I had to assign Piece of Me to a specific genre, I would lean towards fantasy yet in true Stred fashion, there is enough blood and gore to remind you that this fantasy is not for children. Stred has yet to disappoint in his descriptions of the grim, ghastly, the bloody, horrific. I am amazed at these absolutely gory and grisly scenes he conjures up in his mind and then translates to paper so not a drop of blood is lost.
If you enjoy a little (maybe more than a little) blood, a bit of the fantastic, and a lot of heart, you should definitely read Piece of Me.
Piece of Me begins many years after Kari's husband and young son embark on a hunting trip they never return from yet Kari still kindles a small flame of hope that they will come trudging home through the snow one day. When she is made an offer to find her family again by a dark stranger she knows is untrustworthy she must decide just how much of a sacrifice she is willing to make. This is a bittersweet story of love and loss and how far one will go for the people they love.
Stred not only wove this beautiful, harrowing story of friendship and deception and sacrifice, he also built an entire world full of desolate landscapes, terrifying and hideous beasts, this world, the world beyond, and the realms between. He crafted his story so we, the readers, do not just read the feelings and emotions of the characters, of the world. We feel the isolation and claustrophobia. We feel dread as the sun sets and the night beasts begin to roam. I loved the imagery and symbolism of light and dark. Generally speaking, light stands for the good and dark for the evil but in Piece of Me Stred plays with that notion and even flips it on its head. What seems to be evil may actually be salvation.
I loved loved loved the character of Balder. I was giddy when I realized he was from For Balder Walks which is a short story in Stred's Frostbitten collection I read last year. I always appreciate the reappearance of a character. I feel it adds to the depth of the story and aids in the overall world building. I urge you to read For Balder Walks not because you need that knowledge to understand this story, Stred was careful to ensure that wasn't the case, but because it will add to the melancholy feel and give you a deeper appreciation of the character and the part he plays in Piece of Me.
If I had to assign Piece of Me to a specific genre, I would lean towards fantasy yet in true Stred fashion, there is enough blood and gore to remind you that this fantasy is not for children. Stred has yet to disappoint in his descriptions of the grim, ghastly, the bloody, horrific. I am amazed at these absolutely gory and grisly scenes he conjures up in his mind and then translates to paper so not a drop of blood is lost.
If you enjoy a little (maybe more than a little) blood, a bit of the fantastic, and a lot of heart, you should definitely read Piece of Me.
December 10, 2019
4.5/5! I had to digest this one a little bit, as it was a story that took my mind multiple places, which is a good thing! There seems to be a lot of mythology woven into this story, and those kinds of stories always make me happy. I get a bit sidetracked looking up information and learning stuff, and it's awesome.
Anyway, the dark and bleak horror that I associate with Steve was definitely very much present, though I feel in a slightly longer story such as this one, it isn't as heavy, and given the more fantasy leanings of it, I'm very much glad it's not the main focus. It is by no means a happy fairy tale type of story, and the horror is present throughout, but the focus is on Kari, our main character who has lost so much and would give anything to have it back. This is like an epic, grimdark, adventure fantasy that's been shortened and topped with horror. Honestly, pretty much everything I love, and I'm slightly disappointed it's not much longer. I could read a whole series like this and just completely immerse myself in the world and characters Steve has created.
Anyway, the dark and bleak horror that I associate with Steve was definitely very much present, though I feel in a slightly longer story such as this one, it isn't as heavy, and given the more fantasy leanings of it, I'm very much glad it's not the main focus. It is by no means a happy fairy tale type of story, and the horror is present throughout, but the focus is on Kari, our main character who has lost so much and would give anything to have it back. This is like an epic, grimdark, adventure fantasy that's been shortened and topped with horror. Honestly, pretty much everything I love, and I'm slightly disappointed it's not much longer. I could read a whole series like this and just completely immerse myself in the world and characters Steve has created.
December 16, 2019
Wow! Only Steve Stred can take you beyond this world to a new fairy tale of fantastic beasts, epic love story and the battle between light and dark. Kari our heroine is the main protagonist as she will do anything to get her family back in a landscape of monsters, evil and magic. I’m ever amazed by this authors huge imagination to bring stories to life, Characters you cry over and the emotional response he brings to you. You will want this story on your read right now list. Mr. Stred you are amazing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2019
I think I’ve arrived late at the Steve Stred party, but with his latest and phenomenal dark fantasy epic Piece of Me – I’m sure to be gorging myself on more of his fabulous offerings for some time to come (as of writing I’ve dived into his dark horror offering in the shape of ‘The Stranger’).
Piece of Me follows the life of Kari a very relatable protagonist who the reader champions from the start – due to her being fully realised by Stred (who has a way of writing characters that you fully believe in – each one serving a purpose, driving the story forward – there is no cannon-fodder here, no space for hangers on). Kari sets out on a quest to find her husband and son – thought dead, lost in the unforgiving landscape she calls home, when a stranger arrives who opens her eyes to the possibility that they are still alive after all these years. But does she trust this stranger, and will she venture out into the wild to find them, when the darkness hides a myriad of evil creatures that’s soul purpose is to feast on the things they find, lost or isolated within the forest and open plains, snow blinded and confused – each intent on tearing their prey apart and feasting on their innards.
The darkness works hard to bring food for its children.
Piece of Me is a tale of the all consuming darkness of grief and what it does to the person or persons it touches. Stred has done a fabulous job in showcasing this without pandering to stereotypes or being overly sympathetic – this is not a pity party. But due to his fresh and bold approach at detailing grief, Stred has created a tale that is unlike anything you would have read before.
At it’s heart Piece of Me is an unrelenting, unapologetic tale of hope and discovery that is singed around the edges by the inescapable clutches of grief, it’s a life left in tatters, but through all of this, there is still a hope that lingers in the unrelenting and inescapable darkness. It’s a fabulously rich example of how someone suffering from grief would feel and react when given hope, however small that chance of hope is, it stokes the fire within Kari’s heart and sets her on the road to recovery and wholeness as she follows that dwindling thread of hope to the very end… whatever the cost.
Stred has masterfully curated a rich tapestry to act as the backdrop for this epic tale, the world that he has painstakingly created is clear for all to see. From the world itself, the environment, the cabin, the bleakness of the snow, and the isolation all aid in this storytelling masterclass (reminiscent of Ursula Le Guin ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ in scope and detailed brilliance, never once do you doubt what you’re reading – Stred has you in the palm of his hand and you go and believe what he tells you). The environment that Stred has created almost becomes a character in its own right, as Kari battles the elements and the unforgiving landscape that seems intent on keeping her captive as it attempts to thwart her quest at every juncture.
Then woven into this masterfully constructed landscape you have the unique cast of characters that populate Stred’s world – again proving a delight whenever they show up, whether that be the beasts of the darkness (each a unique slice of horror – think Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers fused by a bad acid trip with a Demogorgon and you’ll be in the right ballpark), Fritjof our wandering stranger who seems to be able to communicate with these monsters of the dark, devil hounds, trolls, giants, and huge eagles – there are so many to choose from and each brilliantly portrayed. There are also a number of other fascinating characters but I’ll let you discover those for yourself.
Piece of Me is like The Lord of the Rings but fused brilliantly with the darkness of say Clive Barker’s Hellraiser – Epic Dark Horror Fantasy, if that’s a thing? If not, Stred has created a genre all by himself.
Piece of Me is an astonishing piece of storytelling from a writer who has left his heart a bleeding mess upon the page, a rich and compelling tale that is both visceral and visionary and truly unforgettable. It will maim you and leave you scarred – you’ll never forget this encounter!
Piece of Me follows the life of Kari a very relatable protagonist who the reader champions from the start – due to her being fully realised by Stred (who has a way of writing characters that you fully believe in – each one serving a purpose, driving the story forward – there is no cannon-fodder here, no space for hangers on). Kari sets out on a quest to find her husband and son – thought dead, lost in the unforgiving landscape she calls home, when a stranger arrives who opens her eyes to the possibility that they are still alive after all these years. But does she trust this stranger, and will she venture out into the wild to find them, when the darkness hides a myriad of evil creatures that’s soul purpose is to feast on the things they find, lost or isolated within the forest and open plains, snow blinded and confused – each intent on tearing their prey apart and feasting on their innards.
The darkness works hard to bring food for its children.
Piece of Me is a tale of the all consuming darkness of grief and what it does to the person or persons it touches. Stred has done a fabulous job in showcasing this without pandering to stereotypes or being overly sympathetic – this is not a pity party. But due to his fresh and bold approach at detailing grief, Stred has created a tale that is unlike anything you would have read before.
At it’s heart Piece of Me is an unrelenting, unapologetic tale of hope and discovery that is singed around the edges by the inescapable clutches of grief, it’s a life left in tatters, but through all of this, there is still a hope that lingers in the unrelenting and inescapable darkness. It’s a fabulously rich example of how someone suffering from grief would feel and react when given hope, however small that chance of hope is, it stokes the fire within Kari’s heart and sets her on the road to recovery and wholeness as she follows that dwindling thread of hope to the very end… whatever the cost.
Stred has masterfully curated a rich tapestry to act as the backdrop for this epic tale, the world that he has painstakingly created is clear for all to see. From the world itself, the environment, the cabin, the bleakness of the snow, and the isolation all aid in this storytelling masterclass (reminiscent of Ursula Le Guin ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ in scope and detailed brilliance, never once do you doubt what you’re reading – Stred has you in the palm of his hand and you go and believe what he tells you). The environment that Stred has created almost becomes a character in its own right, as Kari battles the elements and the unforgiving landscape that seems intent on keeping her captive as it attempts to thwart her quest at every juncture.
Then woven into this masterfully constructed landscape you have the unique cast of characters that populate Stred’s world – again proving a delight whenever they show up, whether that be the beasts of the darkness (each a unique slice of horror – think Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers fused by a bad acid trip with a Demogorgon and you’ll be in the right ballpark), Fritjof our wandering stranger who seems to be able to communicate with these monsters of the dark, devil hounds, trolls, giants, and huge eagles – there are so many to choose from and each brilliantly portrayed. There are also a number of other fascinating characters but I’ll let you discover those for yourself.
Piece of Me is like The Lord of the Rings but fused brilliantly with the darkness of say Clive Barker’s Hellraiser – Epic Dark Horror Fantasy, if that’s a thing? If not, Stred has created a genre all by himself.
Piece of Me is an astonishing piece of storytelling from a writer who has left his heart a bleeding mess upon the page, a rich and compelling tale that is both visceral and visionary and truly unforgettable. It will maim you and leave you scarred – you’ll never forget this encounter!
November 5, 2019
What Are We Reading: Piece of Me, by Steve Stred
Rating: 4/5 Ominous Footprints in the Snow
Give me the short version: To see her family again Kari must undertake a perilous, mythic journey ... and survive her guide.
Mr Stred returns to the desolate landscapes and tortured souls we all love with Kari, a woman isolated and labouring to survive in the wilderness. A woman mourning the loss of her husband and child in a world overrun by beasts.
Kari is a great protagonist: pitted against a largely male cast of men and monsters, all of whom harbor their own plans for her, she knows and relies on her own beliefs and talents.
I think the only thing missing from this story for me concerned how rapidly events progressed once the action got kicked off (from about chapter four onward). With so much happening on an epic scale, and with large chunks being recounted via backstory, I felt Piece of Me could have benefited from a little of what filmmaker Miyazaki calls ma: a silence, a lack of action that allows the audience to soak in the moment and fully experience emotion without being rushed along.
I would also happily read some of the quick moments and flashbacks expanded into vignette stories or even novels of their own: Kari and Aatto's journey to find a home of their own, for example, was so fascinating and fraught.
Favourite bit:
"She got to the top of the hill and was transfixed. Before her an entire river valley spread out like a painting she'd once discovered at a restaurant near the city market. The river flowed through the middle of a large plain. Off in the distance the mountain range stood guard, keeping the northern fields to themselves.
She found herself admiring the view, slowly moving her head from left to right, panning the horizon, awestruck at how beautiful nature could be. That she lived so close to this place, yet had never been here made her heart ache. Just how much life was she missing out on by staying planted at the cabin, hoping beyond hope that they'd return."
Rating: 4/5 Ominous Footprints in the Snow
Give me the short version: To see her family again Kari must undertake a perilous, mythic journey ... and survive her guide.
Mr Stred returns to the desolate landscapes and tortured souls we all love with Kari, a woman isolated and labouring to survive in the wilderness. A woman mourning the loss of her husband and child in a world overrun by beasts.
Kari is a great protagonist: pitted against a largely male cast of men and monsters, all of whom harbor their own plans for her, she knows and relies on her own beliefs and talents.
I think the only thing missing from this story for me concerned how rapidly events progressed once the action got kicked off (from about chapter four onward). With so much happening on an epic scale, and with large chunks being recounted via backstory, I felt Piece of Me could have benefited from a little of what filmmaker Miyazaki calls ma: a silence, a lack of action that allows the audience to soak in the moment and fully experience emotion without being rushed along.
I would also happily read some of the quick moments and flashbacks expanded into vignette stories or even novels of their own: Kari and Aatto's journey to find a home of their own, for example, was so fascinating and fraught.
Favourite bit:
"She got to the top of the hill and was transfixed. Before her an entire river valley spread out like a painting she'd once discovered at a restaurant near the city market. The river flowed through the middle of a large plain. Off in the distance the mountain range stood guard, keeping the northern fields to themselves.
She found herself admiring the view, slowly moving her head from left to right, panning the horizon, awestruck at how beautiful nature could be. That she lived so close to this place, yet had never been here made her heart ache. Just how much life was she missing out on by staying planted at the cabin, hoping beyond hope that they'd return."
October 27, 2019
(No spoilers)
This may be my favorite of Mr. Stred's so far. Do I say that every time? This book takes all the things I love about his writing, and ramps them up exponentially.
Our MC Kari is strong and never flinching from a fight. She needs it! Kari is isolated in the mountains and living off the land at a near starvation level. She has only herself for protection and is miles away from any other civilization. Added to her physical peril, her husband and son have been missing for years and the emotional toll is wearing her down.
Her world is thrown into chaos when night beasts start circling her land and a mysterious stranger makes an appearance. Kari saves his life, and begins an epic journey to find her lost family, but her success could mean more for the rest of the world than she understands.
While I've given you a starting point of the plot, this piece has depth I can't begin to describe without spoilers. You will enjoy the pull of magic, a trip into other realms and planes of existence, and more wonderful, hideous creatures than you know what to do with.
This took over my whole day because I could not put it down. On every page I was fearing for Kari's safety, though truth be told, she's stronger than anyone I can imagine. You also never know who to trust or what to expect in this book. There is one part near the end where I was literally dreading turning the page for fear of what was going to happen to her next.
Stred takes us on a journey into nature, folklore, and magic, and showcases a families love and their relentless fight to be together.
Don't miss this one!
This may be my favorite of Mr. Stred's so far. Do I say that every time? This book takes all the things I love about his writing, and ramps them up exponentially.
Our MC Kari is strong and never flinching from a fight. She needs it! Kari is isolated in the mountains and living off the land at a near starvation level. She has only herself for protection and is miles away from any other civilization. Added to her physical peril, her husband and son have been missing for years and the emotional toll is wearing her down.
Her world is thrown into chaos when night beasts start circling her land and a mysterious stranger makes an appearance. Kari saves his life, and begins an epic journey to find her lost family, but her success could mean more for the rest of the world than she understands.
While I've given you a starting point of the plot, this piece has depth I can't begin to describe without spoilers. You will enjoy the pull of magic, a trip into other realms and planes of existence, and more wonderful, hideous creatures than you know what to do with.
This took over my whole day because I could not put it down. On every page I was fearing for Kari's safety, though truth be told, she's stronger than anyone I can imagine. You also never know who to trust or what to expect in this book. There is one part near the end where I was literally dreading turning the page for fear of what was going to happen to her next.
Stred takes us on a journey into nature, folklore, and magic, and showcases a families love and their relentless fight to be together.
Don't miss this one!
September 28, 2019
4.5 ⭐️!! Wow! The world that MC Kari lives in is a brutal, frozen, cold and unforgiving place! The landscape is filled with valleys, hills, mountains, rivers and forests that during the winter months are frozen, windswept and covered in snow measured by the foot! Creatures inhabit these forests, creatures of the night!
Created from the mind of the author, along with his ability to draw the reader into this world, we as readers, go with Kari on a journey to find her husband and son. I found myself wanting to learn more about these night creatures! They are what hides in our fears of cold, dark places! And they are unforgiving! It’s near the end that we realize she is being led along this path for a reason and waiting for her at the end, she must make a great sacrifice! Stred includes two short stories at the end that are set in this same world, which gives us another glimpse into this desolate and I find fascinating place!
Created from the mind of the author, along with his ability to draw the reader into this world, we as readers, go with Kari on a journey to find her husband and son. I found myself wanting to learn more about these night creatures! They are what hides in our fears of cold, dark places! And they are unforgiving! It’s near the end that we realize she is being led along this path for a reason and waiting for her at the end, she must make a great sacrifice! Stred includes two short stories at the end that are set in this same world, which gives us another glimpse into this desolate and I find fascinating place!
January 29, 2020
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Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery was the third or fourth book I read by Steve Stred in 2019. It was also my first time entering the world you’ll find in Piece of Me, thanks to the story, “For Balder Walks.” It was bleak, enigmatically magical, and frigid – I literally got chills reading it. I could feel that troll’s eyes upon me, as if it were looking over my shoulder at the pages as I swiped left. Basically, it was the collection that revealed to me Stred’s ultimate strength in writing; which, in my opinion, lies within the realm of dark fantasy. Granted, his work in science-fiction is also quite demanding of attention – make sure to read Jane: The 816 Chronicles – but Stred has a knack for taking a world of magic, blending it with terror, and piercing it with emotionally electric storylines. That is, ultimately, the case with Piece of Me.
Set some time after “For Balder Walks” (though not directly tied to it, per say), Piece of Me follows Kari, a mother that has lost her husband and son to the wilderness. After years of waiting for them to return, she is finally given a chance to find them and reunite. However, things are far from what they seem, and I mean that universally for the reader. Not only is Kari getting into something much larger than herself, so is the reader; the world described in Piece of Me is immense and full of potential. You only learn a bit here and there as you go (enough to carry the story), but there’s plenty shadowed along the way. Stred could easily write a series of novels of this sort without revealing the full picture. And that, my friends, is exciting. But we’ll circle back to that in a moment.
Piece of Me spends its time either tugging at your heartstrings, pulling you into adventure, or shaking you to your core. There seems to a bit of everything in this one, and that will do just fine by me. Stred’s experience in horror is especially evident in the story’s final moments, and likely to catch new readers off-guard. Are you happy for Kari at the end, or sickened by her choice and its consequences? Whichever way you lean – and I’m not sure anyone could fully lean one way over the other – Stred has left you with a series of possibilities (and questions).
Lucky for us all, he has a new series in the works that expands upon the world found here. You can sign me up for the ride, no doubt.
Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery was the third or fourth book I read by Steve Stred in 2019. It was also my first time entering the world you’ll find in Piece of Me, thanks to the story, “For Balder Walks.” It was bleak, enigmatically magical, and frigid – I literally got chills reading it. I could feel that troll’s eyes upon me, as if it were looking over my shoulder at the pages as I swiped left. Basically, it was the collection that revealed to me Stred’s ultimate strength in writing; which, in my opinion, lies within the realm of dark fantasy. Granted, his work in science-fiction is also quite demanding of attention – make sure to read Jane: The 816 Chronicles – but Stred has a knack for taking a world of magic, blending it with terror, and piercing it with emotionally electric storylines. That is, ultimately, the case with Piece of Me.
Set some time after “For Balder Walks” (though not directly tied to it, per say), Piece of Me follows Kari, a mother that has lost her husband and son to the wilderness. After years of waiting for them to return, she is finally given a chance to find them and reunite. However, things are far from what they seem, and I mean that universally for the reader. Not only is Kari getting into something much larger than herself, so is the reader; the world described in Piece of Me is immense and full of potential. You only learn a bit here and there as you go (enough to carry the story), but there’s plenty shadowed along the way. Stred could easily write a series of novels of this sort without revealing the full picture. And that, my friends, is exciting. But we’ll circle back to that in a moment.
Piece of Me spends its time either tugging at your heartstrings, pulling you into adventure, or shaking you to your core. There seems to a bit of everything in this one, and that will do just fine by me. Stred’s experience in horror is especially evident in the story’s final moments, and likely to catch new readers off-guard. Are you happy for Kari at the end, or sickened by her choice and its consequences? Whichever way you lean – and I’m not sure anyone could fully lean one way over the other – Stred has left you with a series of possibilities (and questions).
Lucky for us all, he has a new series in the works that expands upon the world found here. You can sign me up for the ride, no doubt.
February 20, 2020
Overall I enjoyed this story. It was the 1st time I'd read anything by Steve Stred; and I was pleased to discover that I liked his writing. I am eager to read more of his work.
When I first started reading this story, I quickly became engrossed with the frozen world in which Kari resides. Kari herself is a woman who is easy to root for. I loved learning her tale - her meeting, living with, falling in love with Aatto. Their joy in their family, especially once Tapio came along, was very endearing.
However, the story changed. What had seemed a straightforward tale of a woman trying to survive while waiting in vain for her beloved family to return to her, became an almost Nordic-type fairytale. Kari began a journey in search of her loved ones. A journey through a world where all the inhabitants are something other than what they appear at first glance.
While I really liked the fairytale type imagery - the gods and monsters - the transition between the beginning and ending of the tale seemed a bit jarring. Also, while Kari's struggles were difficult and even horrific at times, the ending of her story seemed to be a bit rushed.
However, I did like the end (because how could I not), and I did feel satisfied with the way Kari's story turned out.
What I really enjoyed, however, were the short stories found after Piece of Me ended. The tale of Balder's backstory, which was actually a prequel of sorts. I also really liked the Krampus vs Claus tale. Jotun was a character from Piece of Me that I was pleased to revisit. Also, finding out that Jotun will be a part of a new story, a continuation of the story of this world, makes me very happy.
I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys dark fantasy and horror, also to anyone who enjoys Nordic legends and tales.
When I first started reading this story, I quickly became engrossed with the frozen world in which Kari resides. Kari herself is a woman who is easy to root for. I loved learning her tale - her meeting, living with, falling in love with Aatto. Their joy in their family, especially once Tapio came along, was very endearing.
However, the story changed. What had seemed a straightforward tale of a woman trying to survive while waiting in vain for her beloved family to return to her, became an almost Nordic-type fairytale. Kari began a journey in search of her loved ones. A journey through a world where all the inhabitants are something other than what they appear at first glance.
While I really liked the fairytale type imagery - the gods and monsters - the transition between the beginning and ending of the tale seemed a bit jarring. Also, while Kari's struggles were difficult and even horrific at times, the ending of her story seemed to be a bit rushed.
However, I did like the end (because how could I not), and I did feel satisfied with the way Kari's story turned out.
What I really enjoyed, however, were the short stories found after Piece of Me ended. The tale of Balder's backstory, which was actually a prequel of sorts. I also really liked the Krampus vs Claus tale. Jotun was a character from Piece of Me that I was pleased to revisit. Also, finding out that Jotun will be a part of a new story, a continuation of the story of this world, makes me very happy.
I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys dark fantasy and horror, also to anyone who enjoys Nordic legends and tales.
December 11, 2020
Proper review to come, but this was a great read. A frozen landscape with fantastic beasts (that I wasn't expecting) that come out in the night, actually lots of things happened in this book that I didn't expect, and I really fell in love with it - the characters, the setting, in a way the beasts. Can't wait for book number two!
June 30, 2020
This was my first story by Steve, but it won't be my last. I saw he has a ton of books on my Kindle Unlimited membership, so I'm going to keep checking them out. This one had a lot of heart and horror!
October 1, 2022
Wow I read this book in two sittings because it was so gripping it left me breathless. Piece of Me was unlike anything I've read by Steve Stred, and I've read a lot of his fiction such as Of Witches , The Window in the Ground and The One that Knows no Fear. This guy is a seriously versatile author!
I loved Kari straightaway, she's a fearless warrior who relies on no one but herself. She's learnt to survive in a hungry harsh world, she's gone through catastrophe and she still fights to hold on each day, never giving up hope of being reunited with her lost ones.
I knew very little of the premise of this book when I started reading and I loved the direction it went in. Steve Stred possesses imagination in abundance to produce something really unique and gripping. This book would make an amazing Netflix series, the story was full of twists and turns and the ending was not what I expected at all! The fast paced action heavy story really reminded of the 2006 film Apocalypto , the suspense is unrelenting!
There were a lot of Labyrinth vibes with this tale, nothing is what it seems and you can't trust anyone or what your eyes are telling you. Hope is all that sustains Kari as she deals with blow after blow. She has only one goal to find her loved ones.
I loved Kari straightaway, she's a fearless warrior who relies on no one but herself. She's learnt to survive in a hungry harsh world, she's gone through catastrophe and she still fights to hold on each day, never giving up hope of being reunited with her lost ones.
I knew very little of the premise of this book when I started reading and I loved the direction it went in. Steve Stred possesses imagination in abundance to produce something really unique and gripping. This book would make an amazing Netflix series, the story was full of twists and turns and the ending was not what I expected at all! The fast paced action heavy story really reminded of the 2006 film Apocalypto , the suspense is unrelenting!
There were a lot of Labyrinth vibes with this tale, nothing is what it seems and you can't trust anyone or what your eyes are telling you. Hope is all that sustains Kari as she deals with blow after blow. She has only one goal to find her loved ones.
April 12, 2023
Piece of Me
How to begin? I read this book in one day. I couldn't read fast enough. I gathered Kari would never be reunited with her family. Kari is an Indian warrior and tough as nails. She's been waiting for her husband and son to come home; she's been alone in a frozen world for decades. What she goes through trying to bring them home is a fantastical journey of epic proportions. I'd love to see into Steve Stred's mind. Hey this book you won't be disappointed.
How to begin? I read this book in one day. I couldn't read fast enough. I gathered Kari would never be reunited with her family. Kari is an Indian warrior and tough as nails. She's been waiting for her husband and son to come home; she's been alone in a frozen world for decades. What she goes through trying to bring them home is a fantastical journey of epic proportions. I'd love to see into Steve Stred's mind. Hey this book you won't be disappointed.
August 6, 2023
Oh yeah
This is the 2nd story I have read by this writer. I must say I AM TOTALLY into your stories. I find they grab me right from the start. I like everything about each story. He covers plot, story line, and all I ever look for in a story. And he does it quite grandly. All I can say is "MORE PLEASE".
This is the 2nd story I have read by this writer. I must say I AM TOTALLY into your stories. I find they grab me right from the start. I like everything about each story. He covers plot, story line, and all I ever look for in a story. And he does it quite grandly. All I can say is "MORE PLEASE".
December 13, 2020
I loved this book!
Amazing story teller
And the creatures weren’t half bad
Love me a creature
Amazing story teller
And the creatures weren’t half bad
Love me a creature
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